Book Lice or Psocids
Liposcelis sp. Adults:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Psocids are known as booklice because of their
affinity for damp, moldy books. They are not truly
lice and pose no threat to humans or pets. There
are 4,408 species on all continents, including
Antarctica with about 260 species in the United
States and Canada. Psocids are small, and they
need high humidity or moisture to live. They are an
indicator species, implying past or present
dampness in an environment. The different
species have different environmental parameters
under which they thrive or die. As of 2018, there
are no published studies on one of the
common species known as a booklouse,
Liposcelis corrodens. Typically, the lower the
relative humidity (RH), the less chance this
insect will survive. Populations of the species
Liposcelis entophilia will die in 6 days in
an environment of 43% RH while populations
of Liposcelis paeta will die in 16 days in
an environment of 50% RH. Generally
speaking, most species of psocids do not
survive in RH environments below 50%,
while population increases of psocids occur in
environments with RH readings of 65% and above.
Environmental temperatures greater than 37°C
are usually high enough to kill most
psocid species with the exception of L.
paeta that tends to be more heat resistant. These
insects start to become active at
temperatures as low as 10° C and will
increase in their feeding and activity up
to 32° C.
Common places for psocid populations to thrive
include window sills, under building siding,
tree trunks, shrubs, flowers, around garden hoses,
under bricks and rocks, around light fixtures and
under boxes. Outdoor populations of barklice (in
the same family: Psocoptera) can
occasionaly come inside and be mistaken for
booklice. Barklice generally have wings where
booklice do not.
Information current as of 21, August 2018
For more information visit http://www.museumpests.net
DIAGNOSTIC MORPHOLOGY
• Less than 4 mm in length (usually 1 -2 mm)
• Soft bodied insects, with long, slender antennae and chewing
mouthparts
• Hind femora are characteristically enlarged and flattened
• Common species are wingless
• Outdoor related species of barklice often have wings
Immature Stage:
• Incomplete metamorphosis (egg-nymph- adult)
• Nymphs are similar in appearance to adults but smaller
• Young nymphs are paler and sometimes patterned
SIGNS OF INFESTATION
CONTROL & TREATMENT
Booklice are slow eaters. This means that damage
from local populations is usually minor unless The most effective method for controlling
populations go unchecked for long periods of booklice is to reduce moisture and environments
conducive to mold growth. Good air circulation,
time. Booklice may be spotted in the folds of food
de-humidification to a relative humidity below
packets and in books and magazines. Gently
tapping boxes or paper suspected of having psocids 50%, repair of any moisture problems and storage
of materials above floor level will help to
onto a dark surface will reveal the small and lightly
colored insects. minimize dampness. Existing psocid populations
will prosper unless the conditions which caused
FOOD SOURCES their population growth are changed.
Most species are susceptible to heat treatment with
The primary food for booklice is microscopic
temperatures >55° C with the exception of L.
molds and other fungi found on food, wheat starch
paeta.
paste and paper. Certain species are known to feed
on dead insects. They will eat a wide variety of
Freezing to temperatures below - 18° C generally
materials and are able to change their diet as food
works well to kill this pest with the exception of
availability changes.
the species L. bostrychophila
LIFE CYCLE
Diatomaceous earth has not been found to be
effective against psocid species. There is also
Studies of certain booklouse species report that
evidence of resistance in psocids to the fumigant
no males occur and that females
reproduce parthenogenetically gas, phosphine.
(reproduction without fertilization). These
insects undergo simple metamorphosis to
develop to maturity. Their white oval eggs
may be covered with a crusty material, silk,
or debris of various kinds and will hatch ~
three weeks after being laid. Eggs are laid in
warm, humid areas other than where the adults
are feeding. The nymphs will shed their
skins several times as they
grow. Booklice may lay anywhere from 20 -
50 eggs depending on the time of year. Their
total life span is from 24 to 110
days. Some species produce only one generation
while others may have as many as eight per
year, with a single generation completed in as Liposcelis corrodens
little as 25 days under ideal conditions.
 Fact Sheet: Book Lice or Psocids

Photo Credit for Lower Left image of Psocoptera: Copyright, Stanislav Krejcík, BioLib,

Photo credit for Upper Right image of Psocoptera: Patrick Kelley, Insects Limited

Photo credit for Lower Right image: George Opit, Oklahoma State University

Information current as of 21, August 2018

For more information visit http://www.museumpests.net